Lily’s nose wrinkled. “A mermaid told me who Tink was with and where you might be going.”
“Which. One?”
The girl huffed. “Blue hair. Green scales. Didn’t get the name.”
A quick glance at Smee confirmed they had the same thought. Could be any of a dozen merfolk they knew, but none that were in Titania’s inner circle. The queen wouldn’t have been so free with the knowledge of their quest.
It was a lie. He could almost taste it in the bitter air. However she’d discovered Tink’s whereabouts, that wasn’t the whole story. No way she just happened to make camp right here, at the bloody bearded man rock. Not to mention the campfire. She wanted to be found. He knew a trap when he saw one.
“Come on,” he called to his crew. “Let’s give these ladies a moment.” He turned to Tink. “Justa moment. Then I’ll expect you on the beach.”
Fisted hands landed on her hips as she straightened. “Aye, aye, Captain.”
Great. She’s bloody pissed off.Hook turned on his heel and gestured to his crew with a flick of his fingers. They hopped up and scuttled away without a word.
Until they reached the beach.
“She—”
He raised his hook in the air, silencing whatever torrent Sage planned to spew. “I know.”
She paced back and forth, kicking up damp sand. “Every minute we stand here—”
“I know.”Gods, don’t I.
“We should be searching for—”
“I bloody know, all right!” His hand fisted at his side. He grimaced, fighting the urge to apologize. It was a fine line being their captain but also a friend—no, family.
“We’ll split up,” Smee said. “I’ll take the ladies on a trek down the beach, then…uh…”
Hook rubbed his forehead. “No, we’ve split up enough already.” He didn’t like dividing his crew between land and sea. It put them all at risk. But leaving the ship unmanned was an even worse option. He’d already left Barley in charge of others onboard. They’d guard the ship, make ready to get away from this island as soon as their quest was done. Sending more back? He glanced toward the foggy peaks.No. There was no telling what danger awaited them. He couldn’t spare more taking a pixie back to the ship, and they had no time to lose waiting around for them to return. “We’ll bring her with us.”
Groans and grumbles answered him. His raised hook requested silence. “Tell her nothing. Or as little as possible.”
If Tink didn’t tell her everything herself. He’d have to talk to her, get her alone and make her see reason. The witch’s clues came at too steep a price to give them away for free, especially to someone he didn’t trust.
“All right.” Smee stepped forward. “Let’s find that second clue.”
Hook met his gaze, giving him a firm nod. When everything went to shit, Smee was always there. Solid, reliable, a stalwart friend to the end.
“The wooden trident marks the path,” Anne said. The woman had a mind like a book. Tell her something once, and she could almost always remember it. She tossed her auburn braid over one shoulder. “At least, that’s what you told me. Wooden…like a carving?”
There’d be no shortage of wood on an island like this, but who would have carved it?
“We’ll know when we find it,” Smee said, ever the optimist. “Like the bearded man.”
Davies coughed, drawing their attention, and tipped his head toward the trees. Tink and Lily appeared on the pathway—hand in hand.
Hook’s lips thinned. He’d never been so jealous of a woman before. Cousins or not, their closeness rankled.
“Well?” Tink asked.
The crew stood stone-faced, staring down the approaching pixies. He had to give it to them, they could be intimidating when they wanted. Hook glanced from one to another. “She can come with us. But—” He raised his hook, advancing on the newcomer. “I’m the captain here. You follow my orders. Answer my questions. Obey my crew. Got it?”
Lily visibly swallowed. Her focus flitted around as she nodded. For a moment, she looked much younger than her years, though Tink claimed they were almost the same age.
Fine. “Now spread out, but stay in sight of one another. You know what we’re looking for.”
